The Beginning
In 1910, the Mexican revolution was in full swing and many ranching families were fleeing for their lives to Texas. The Muniz ranching family from Matehula, Nuevo Leon was forced to leave their ranch and all their belongings. The first leg of their journey was by train to Saltillo, Coahuila, and then to Nuevo Laredo on the Rio Grande River.
Traveling from Nuevo Laredo to San Antonio, Texas, they met up with the extended family who aided them in securing jobs and places to live. Shortly after arriving, destiny began to unfold as they were told of work on the Johnston’s “Rancho Grande” in Medina County, Texas. For the Ascension "Chon" Muniz Family, readymade ranching jobs awaited them: ranch foreman, gardener, vaqueros, housekeeping, and cooking.
Ultimately, “Chon” would end up working for the famed Kennedy Brothers nearby ranch along the Pacific Southwest Railroad between Sabinal and D’hanis, Texas. Here, “Chon” would retain the title of "Ranch Foreman” and be given the chance to purchase ranchland from them. His experiences were of an era gone by as cattle round-ups still were done by horse and lasted for two weeks. Then, the cattle were herded to a nearby railhead loading dock.
Finally, ‘Chon” was able to purchase his first one hundred acres, circa 1920, out of the known “Ranch Colorado”. Then additional acres were bought in 1930, 1940, and 1950s. A total of 1500 acres was contiguously assembled stretching from US Hwy 90 West on the South to Old Hwy 90 West on the North. He married Miss Teresita Garcia and they began their family on the ranch and his extended family lived on the farm as well. His success at crop production was unparalleled as tens of thousands of acres of corn, oats, wheat, milo, hi-gear, and cotton were harvested over his sixty-year career.
Similarly, his cattle production reached several hundred heads of Herefords, Brangus, and Santa Gertrudis. During World War II, war efforts created the need for up to 700 head of cattle to be produced per year on the ranch. Having continued his relationship with the Kennedy’s he negotiated an adjoining eight-thousand-acre lease from them. In order to handle the production and sale of livestock and crops, he had trucks, trailers, tractors, combines, implements, corrals, barns, and a garage for maintenance.
Perhaps the most important assets were the men who worked for him that were knowledgeable about their duties with livestock and crop raising. Several relatives help manage the farm and ranching operations. Other families lived on the farm and were native ‘Tejanos” and others were from Mexico.
The Second Generation
Although his children helped on the farm until they became adults, they did not become a part of the farming and ranching enterprise. However, in 1984, the oldest daughter, Mrs. Maria Rodriguez married to Mr. Ted Rodriguez from San Antonio, Texas, purchased two hundred acres of the old “Rancho Colorado” from Don “Chon”. In addition, at this time, she received a one-hundred-acre inheritance that produced a three-hundred-acre farm. Together they continued raising crops and produced a small, thirty head “Brangus” cattle herd and contributed to the continued development and improvements to the farm and ranch.
The Third Generation
In 2012, the third generation of heirs that led the heritage and legacy of their ranching family was their youngest son Alberto, who received two hundred acres, and their middle son Rudi, who received one hundred acres. Alberto became a very good steward of the family farming legacy. Regrettably, he suddenly lost his life to a fight with cancer.
Then in 2013, according to “Heirship,” his land was equally given to remaining sons Rudi and an older brother Oscar Rodriguez. This then left 100 acres apiece to Oscar and brother Rudi Rodriguez. Oscar remained with the original homestead, barn, and corrals of the ranch. The Northern acreage received by Rudi was largely unimproved fields, pastures, and Senderos.
The resulting two hundred acres have become “Rancho Colorado del Norte” and are now complete with infrastructure, ranch-house, barns, tractor-sheds, crop-fields, and producing pastures. Also, “Brangus Cattle” have been introduced to the ranch along with registered quarter-horses. A new and improved stock tank has also been restored along with the first planting of grapes and fruit trees.
The future is bright and promising for “Old Rancho Colorado” as this generation continues to improve, conserve and continue the legacy and heritage of our ancestors.